Youth Empowerment Stream

Project Summary:

Creation is a multi-level funding program that will support strengths-based, community-focused, and youth-led projects taking place in communities across Canada. Funding is dispersed through themed streams, which focus on specific funding gaps and needs in communities.

The Youth Empowerment Stream will provide small grants from $2,500 – $5000 to youth-led projects happening in urban, rural, and remote communities across Canada. The focus of this stream is to fund new and emerging micro-projects that focus on increasing the resilience, engagement, and wellness of youth. Projects must be led by 2+ Indigenous youth (ages 15-29). Youth leaders (grantees) will receive innovative mentorship, training, and capacity-building opportunities throughout the project. The Youth Empowerment Stream can be used as a stepping stone to implement a new idea or start your work with a project idea.

Priorities:

There is a priority in this stream to support:

• New and emerging Indigenous grassroots groups and collectives
• Projects that are testing and/or trying a new idea
• New groups who have never run a project before
• Groups who have never received funding from CREaton before

Focus Areas:

Projects should focus on providing programming, training, or capacity-building opportunities for Indigenous youth. Below are some possible examples of eligible projects. These examples do not include every type of project that we would fund

• Programs for youth to participate in recreational, wellness, and/or arts-based programming
• Cultural programming, including ceremonies, teaching circles, and land-based activities
• Peer-led circles where youth can build relationships and participate in online activities
• Intergenerational programs, that provide youth opportunities to work with Elders, parents, families, children, etc
• Programs that increase youth leadership skills
• Professional development programs for members of a youth council/organization to increase their knowledge about organizational governance
• Projects that target making resources (such as mental health services) safer and more accessible

All funded projects engage more youth other than just project leaders.

Eligibility:

Funding in this stream will only be open to grassroots Indigenous youth groups consisting of a minimum of 2 youth. Please note: for the purpose of this program, IYR defines Indigenous as status and non-status First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada, living both on and off-reserve.

Eligible groups and projects include:

• • Unincorporated/grassroots youth groups/collectives/councils comprised primarily of Indigenous youth

• • Emerging, incorporated youth groups (note: IYR defines “emerging” as groups that have an operating budget of less than $50,000)

• • Projects must serve primarily serve Indigenous youth

Ineligible groups and projects:

• • Individuals and/or projects that are not led by 2+ Indigenous youth

• • Projects that are not youth-led (or where the majority of the leadership is 30+)

• • Non-Indigenous groups and organizations

• • Groups that have received more than $10,000 in funding from IYR over the past 12 months

• • Projects taking place outside of Canada

• • For-profit corporations

 

Ineligible Expenses:

IYR will NOT fund projects that are political in nature, or that involve distributing substances (i.e. alcohol, non-traditional tobacco, marijuana, illicit substances, etc). IYR will also not fund projects or activities that are taking place outside of Canada.

Project leaders cannot receive honorariums of more than $500.

 

Review Process:

Applications will be reviewed by a Community Grants Committee that includes Advisory Circle members, community members, Indigenous youth and other knowledge carriers. All members will have experience running programs and initiatives, overseeing projects and offering community support. 100% of the review committee will be Indigenous, and a minimum of 75% will be youth.

Capacity Building:

Youth will be invited to participate in CRE’s Capacity Building Program. This program is geared towards strengthening skill sets around program administration, facilitation, and evaluation as well as providing opportunities to learn about program design, organizational governance and growth, personal development, and youth leadership. Youth will have the opportunity to work toward a certificate in the program.

 

Reporting and Evaluation:

Grantees will be asked to submit one report:

• • Final Report (2 months after project completion): Grantees will submit an evaluation report that will include reporting on the final budget (how much money you spent), data on the number of participants reached in your project, data on time spent on the project, and a narrative report on the project. The final report will likely take 3 – 7 hours to complete. Grantees will receive a copy of the evaluation report within the first month of their project start date.

 

Financial Oversight and Trusteeship:

Groups/councils/collectives with members who are over the age of 18 do not require an external funding administrator and, if successful, will receive the grant funds directly.

Successful applicant groups (with leaders aged 15-17) will require a local non-profit or trusted community member over age 18 to serve as their grant trustee. This trustee may be someone the applicants are already familiar with or IYR can support in connecting them with a willing organization or community member as well as with creating a trustee agreement that ensures youth will be supported

View under “What do we mean by a trustee” for how we define trustee.

 

Release of Funds:

IYR does not issue cheques. Funding will be sent to grantees via a Plooto bank transfer/direct deposit. Grantees will receive funds within two weeks of submitting a signed funding agreement.

 

Timelines:

Stages	Spring Intake	Summer Intake	Fall Intake	Winter Intake
Applications Open	Mar 1, 2023	May 15, 2023	Aug 1, 2023	Nov 1, 2023
Application Deadline	Mar 31, 2023	June 15, 2023	Aug 31, 2023	Nov 30, 2023
Decisions Released	May 31, 2023	Jul 31, 2023	Oct 31, 2023	Jan 31, 2024
Project Start Date	Jun 1, 2023	Aug 1, 2023	Nov 1, 2023	Feb 1, 2024
Project End Date	Oct 31, 2023	Jan 31, 2024	Mar 31, 2024	Jun 30, 2024
Final Report Due	Jan 9, 2024	Mar 31, 2024	May 31, 2024	Aug 31, 2024